Chiesa San Michele in Frangesto
Italy
Wonderful panoramic and photographic point overlooking the "Costa dei Trulli", the church of S. Michele in Frangesto is located in the old "panoramic" road that leads from Monopoli to Selva di Fasano, in the locality of Loggia di Pilato. For some historians, the structure was an old farmhouse but according to the Bull of Pope Alexander III it was part of a female monastery, built on the land of an abbess around the middle of the 12th century. Its name comes from the archangel and from the bishop Michael who blessed it in one year of his long episcopate between 1144 and 1176.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the isolated and evocative Key-ay-zah Sahn Mee-kay-lay in Frahn-jay-stoh, a modest stone sanctuary perched on the northern ridge of the Canale di Pirro. This humble structure is a quintessential example of the rural…
Listen in the app2The Stone Facade and External Porch
We begin our close examination at the church's modest facade. Notice the rough, hand-hewn quality of the limestone blocks. …
Listen in the app3The Rock-Cut Nave and Altar
Step inside the cool, dim interior of the church. The nave is small and intimate, with walls that are partially carved directly into the limestone hillside. …
Listen in the app4The Fresco Fragments and Symbolism
On the interior walls of the church, if you look closely, you can find fragments of ancient frescoes that once adorned the entire sanctuary. These paintings, though faded, are a vital record of the artistic traditions of the…
Listen in the app5The Panoramic Courtyard and Valley View
Stepping back outside, we find ourselves in the small, stone-paved courtyard that surrounds the church. This space offers one of the most breathtaking views of the Canale di Pirro. …
Listen in the app6The Legend of San Michele and the Serpent
As we walk around the perimeter of the church, it is worth reflecting on the many legends associated with San Michele in this region. One of the most popular is his battle with the serpent or dragon, a symbol of the victory of…
Listen in the app7The Cemetery and the Cycle of Life
Near the church, you may find the remains of a small, ancient cemetery, its simple stone markers now mostly reclaimed by the earth and vegetation. Historically, these rural churches often served as the final resting place for the…
Listen in the app8Closing
As our exploration of the Key-ay-zah Sahn Mee-kay-lay in Frahn-jay-stoh concludes, we leave this high limestone ridge with a renewed sense of the power of simple, enduring things. We have stepped into a rock-cut nave that has…
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What is Chiesa San Michele in Frangesto?
Chiesa San Michele in Frangesto is a place in Italy with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Italy |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 40.8745, 17.2679 |
| Last updated |